Hey, everyone! This is my new story. I hope you all like it. I think you'll find it interesting. I had fun writing this chapter, and I hope you'll like it.
After a lot of thinking, I decided to name this Born To Die. It somehow describes the whole Hunger Games situation. How we really are born to die, but we persist so much to make our time even a bit longer. We can never really win against fate. Plus the inspiration came from Lana Del Rey's song, "Born To Die". Creative, I know:P
Also, this is a Catoniss, not a Prato (Prim and Cato). That's an odd couple, maybe I'll actually try writing it someday.
Some things may be different from the book. Like, Katniss is 17, not 16, which means that Prim is 13. Katniss's father didn't die when she was 11 like in the book, but when she was 15. I have no idea why I did that, but whatever.
I hope you enjoy this, since I am a sucky writer.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, or the quote by John Green's character. (Augustus Waters in the fault in our stars)
I am glued to the ground, unable to move, to speak, to save her. My little sister. She's taking small steps to the stage, shaking, hands on her side. I want to scream, shout, do something. Anything. But I can't. One of the stupid Panem laws: no volunteers at the Reapings. In my opinion, it was always a bad law. But now, when my own sister is picked, it's more than that, it's a heartless rule.
I can't just stand aside while my poor, inexperienced sister gets thrown into a death situation. I have no problem having my name picked. I, at least, have knowledge in survival. I am a hunter, I was raised in the woods, I know its every big and small, unlike Prim, who would cry whenever I would bring home dead game. She is selfless, and that's not good in the Games; putting other before herself, it's honorable, but could get her killed.
I clamp a hand over my mouth to refrain from screaming, therefore having the Peacekeepers surrounding me, probably taking me to jail or torturing me. On second thought, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Anything but forcing me to watch my own sister killed.
She's standing there, slightly crying, holding my gaze. It's too much. It's too much to know that someone you love and care about deeply is going to be massacred for entertainment while you're standing, watching. It's both humiliating and torturing.
And I hate the Capitol for that.
Some of my worries disappear when Effie picks Peeta's name. This way, Prim has a chance of being one of the two victors along with him, of coming home. Peeta is strong, well-built. I have no doubt he'll protect her for me. And I'll know he'll do that because he knows how much she actually means to me. I used her as an excuse when he told me he likes me a year ago. We're not a couple now, we're more like best friends –not as close as me and Gale though. I was partially lying. Prim did mean to me, but I refused him because I was already taken.
I've been for the past three years by Cato Hadley, a close family friend. Even though there was a year gap between us, I was in love with him. I was a stubborn girl –I still am– and ignored my feelings for him even though they were there, when clearly I was head over heels.
We first met when I was 7 and he was 8, he tagged along a victory tour with his mentor. Of course like anyone from District 2, he was obnoxious and arrogant, we hated each other at first, fought with each other, tricked each other. It wasn't until his last week here that Haymitch and Brutus almost shoved us into Haymitch's house in the Victor's Village, that I started tolerating him. By the end of the week, we were inseparable, I even showed him my woods. He told me he didn't want to participate in the Hunger Games, that his parents didn't want him to, but he had to. His family was almost poor, compared to the other District 2 residents. He was going to win and become rich, he even promised to come and take me to the Capitol, a place of lavishness. He promised to get rid of the poorness that was surrounding me and my family.
When I asked him why he was so sure he's going to win, he said that he has the best swordsmanship skills. He demonstrated his fighting techniques, and I taught him how to use the bow and arrows.
When departing, he made another promise to come back every year for me, that we'll keep in touch through letters.
At fourteen, he declared his love for me, and I didn't hesitate to tell him I love him back. We kissed for the first time, it left me breathless and craving more from his moist lips. We stayed together even after my father's death two years ago, he was here every step of the step of the way, and I couldn't love him more than I already did.
Across from me, on stage, Peeta slightly nods at me, I wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't already staring, silently letting me know that he'll do whatever it takes to protect Prim.
When Effie Trinket, our bubbly district escort, guides them in, I practically run to Prim's door and wait until the Peacekeeper lets me in.
I instantly wrap my arms around her small fragile figure, and banish the plaguing bad thoughts from both our minds.
"You'll be safe, alright? Peeta and Haymitch are both there to help you. Listen to Haymitch, no matter what, he knows what he's doing." I comfort here, patting down her hair. "When worse comes, you'll just adorable people to death." I joke to ease the tension, causing her to laugh a bit before stiffening.
"I don't want to kill, Katniss. I don't want anyone to die." She says sniffing, tears shining in her eyes, ready to flow down. I look at her understandingly, she's too young –only thirteen– to be put in this kind of situation.
"I know, Prim. I know. But hopefully, you won't have to since Peeta is with you." I say. Suddenly, I have a great idea to cheer her up. I look down on my dress until I spot the gold mixing with the outfit's baby blue. I detach the pin from my dress's collar and give it to her. It's dad's Mockingjay pin, it brought him luck and kept him safe. He was wearing it the day he died. I guess that says something.
"It will bring you luck." I say. She stares open-mouthed at it, and I reach out and close her fingers around it.
"Dad's pin?" she asks, still staring at my hand over hers.
"Yeah. When you wear it, just remember that dad is watching over you." I say, slightly smiling.
"Thank you." She says, releasing the tears that she was struggling to hold at bay. Discretely, mother joins our embrace. They both cry, but not me. I have to stay strong for them. I always have, and I always will.
When Peacekeepers take us out, I tell mother to go home. We will not going to be at the train station, it will be filled with swarms of reporters and photographers, aching to take pictures of this year's tributes.
I knock once before entering the room where Peeta is kept in. He's looking at me, expecting me to come. Any traces of tears are gone from his face.
I suddenly feel guilty, I always take everything Peeta gives, but never give back myself. I can't stand knowing he'll help me and my sister when I decline the only thing he wants.
I abruptly throw myself into his strong arms, rest my head on his shoulder and sob. He smells of cinnamon and bread, his natural scent from spending so much time baking. It's the same where I have been just minutes ago, except this time, I am Prim, and he is me, and I am not the one who will fight and kill, he is.
He just holds me, presenting himself as the replacement for the comfort I want. Cato. I feel so selfish right now, so I extract myself from the hug and look at him, really look at him. I notice things I have never seen before. The way his eyebrows scrunch together when he looks at me, trying to decipher me. His incredibly long and blond eyelashes that reach his cheek when he blinks. The small, almost imperceptible, mole on the corner of his mouth.
He is beautiful, but I am not the one for him.
"Thank you, Peeta. For everything." I say sincerely, kissing his cheek.
"Don't mention it. I did nothing." He says and I stare at him disbelievingly. What he did for me was hardly called nothing. But I shut up and decide to let it go.
"Stay safe, Peeta. And keep her safe." I warn.
"I will protect her with my own life." He promises. I feel a pang in my heart. That doesn't mean he's coming back here, even if she does. I don't want to lose a great friend. I don't want to lose the boy with the bread.
"I talked to my father," he interrupts the silence, "and he is going to take care of you and your mother, since I will be in the arena."
"Thank you." I choke out in appreciation. "I don't deserve you in my life, Peeta. I never did." I say looking down. He grabs my chin, making me look directly into his eyes.
"That's not true." He speaks softly. "If anything, it's the other way around. I don't deserve you." I scoff at him.
"I broke your heart." I say avoiding his gaze.
"It was a privilege having my heart broken by you*, Miss Everdeen." He confesses, giving me one of his many smiles that he only saves for me. "I am going to miss you." He confesses when I didn't say anything.
"Me too, Peeta. Trust me, me too." And I will, he's been such a good friend, he didn't care about being seen with someone from the Seam, he used to spend time at my worn-down place and even calling it lovely. He's polite, sincere and true. I am going to miss him in my life.
I hug him one last time when the Peacekeepers come and escort me out. There's one more thing to do. I have to remind Haymitch of something. He bumps into me when the Peacekeepers let me go. I don't waste any time by pushing him into a deserted room.
"Haymitch, you have to promise me you're going to help them." I say.
"I promise."
"That means that you will not get drunk. You will not leave them to work for themselves. You have to train Primrose with weapons, force her to, because she won't do it willingly." I insist.
"Okay, sweetheart. I know how to do my job." I bite down the urge to throw some sarcastic remark at him for saying that.
"Peeta and Prim have to come back here. Both." I declare persistently.
"Hold on, Peeta is going to help her in the arena?" he asks, shocked.
"Yeah, he assured me he's going to do it." I reply.
"Wow, the girl has some pretty good allies in the arena." He says looking anywhere but me. I'm confused.
"Wait, allies?" I question.
"Yeah." Still no eye contact.
"Why? Who's going to be in the arena?" I ask, dumbfounded.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry." He says, squeezing my arm in reassurance. "Brutus just told me."
"Told you what?" I can almost hear my heartbeat in my ears, my throat tightening. It's like my body is reacting to whatever Haymitch is about to say before my own brain.
"Cato's name has been picked." I open my mouth in shock, I am paralyzed. The only thing I can do is squeeze my eyes shut and let the darkness reign. This cannot be happening. I mumble no over and over again, as if saying it will prevent it from happening.
Not only am I going to lose a sister and a best friend, but also a lover.
Because Cato is going to fight in the Hunger Games along Prim and Peeta.
So, how do you find this? Not a real cliffhanger, but how do you find the plot and everything? Should I continue this? Or should I not?
Tell me what you think, please.
Love.
Line.
